The supremacy battle between Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and former governor and national Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is taking a toll on Edo State House of Assembly.
The ad-hoc committee investigating issues surrounding the inauguration of Edo State House of Assembly has given Obaseki one week to issue a fresh proclamation for the reconstitution of the House in deference to Section 105 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In addition, the ad-hoc committee wants Obaseki to publish the date, time and venue in a national daily or television station for the fresh inauguration, and urged all members to dissolve their factions to enable peace and stability reign in the state.
Consequently, the federal legislature declared as null and void all decisions taken by the seventh Assembly, pending its “proper inauguration” by the Governor. With this new development, political observers are saying Obaseki will have to tread with caution to avoid the wrath of the National Assembly, the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).
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The ad-hoc committee was mandated by the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila to investigate Edo Assembly’s crisis and report back within one week. The committee also recommended the sealing of Edo Assembly complex, if Obaseki failed to send a fresh letter of proclamation for proper inauguration of the House. Peeved by this recommendation, both Governor Obaseki and Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Frank Okiye expressed dissatisfaction with the ad-hoc committee’s recommendation.
According to Okiye, Edo House of Assembly was duly inaugurated on June 17, 2019 and since then, the business of law-making has been going on without hindrance. Okiye, who had earlier expressed optimism with the House of Representatives’ decision to investigate all the issues surrounding the inauguration of the Edo Assembly, advised the committee members to be guided and not get involved in petty politics to massage the ego of Abuja politicians. At a rally in the state, Governor Obaseki had also talked about ‘Abuja politicians.’